2012 NFL Mock Draft: Defensive Stars Who Will Make Instant Splash at Next Level

Defense wins championships. It's a cliché that has been around for a long time and continues to hold water year after year. A strong defensive unit can make up for a lack of playmakers on offense and poor coaching simply by shutting down the opponent.

Not all picks spent on defense are created, though. Some players will be able to make an immediate impact on their next teams while others will need some time to develop before they are prepared to earn a starting job.

Here's a full first-round mock draft featuring three players who will contribute instantly.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

It will put the Colts in an awkward position if Peyton Manning is healthy, but they must select Luck.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil will be the anchor of St. Louis' line for many years to come.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

LSU is quickly becoming an elite cornerback factory. Last season there was Patrick Peterson, this season there's Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu, who might be the best of the bunch, is still to come. All three players are game-changers.

Claiborne (highlights above) has faced a ton of different looks as teams have tried to attack him while playing opposite of Peterson and Mathieu. He's passed every test along the way and has terrific ball skills that make him an intriguing option for the Vikings.

Minnesota ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pass defense and had a league-low eight interceptions. Claiborne would be able to step right into the starting lineup to help fix an obvious void in the secondary.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson will be the game-changing runner Cleveland needs to help Colt McCoy.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Don't count out Kirkpatrick overtaking Claiborne as the No. 1 cornerback quite yet.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The Redskins are praying another team doesn't trade ahead of them to take Griffin.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon will give Blaine Gabbert a much-needed top target in the passing game.

8. Carolina Panthers* (6-10): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Panthers need a force like Still, whose stock is soaring, in the middle of their defensive line.

9. Miami Dolphins* (6-10)*: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

With other quarterbacks dropping out of the draft like flies, Tannehill moves into this slot by default for now.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Buffalo's offense line is vastly improved but still needs a dominant left tackle like Reiff.

11. Seattle Seahawks* (7-9): Nick Perry, DE, USC

The Seahawks have several needs on offense, but Perry provides the best value here.

12. Kansas City Chiefs* (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Martin is the final elite tackle in this class, so he'll be off the board shortly after Reiff.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Arizona needs to upgrade its pass rush to help carry its end-of-season momentum into next fall.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly isn't a flashy player, which is why he didn't get a ton of national respect during his time with Boston College, but he's a solid contributor that can be counted on in all situations. He has more than 500 tackles during his three seasons with the Golden Eagles.

There's some concern about his size translating to the next level but he should make up for a deficiency in that area with agility and intensity. Nothing he's shown so far should lead anybody to believe he won't continue to be productive.

The Cowboys lack both talent and depth on the interior of their defense, which makes Kuechly a logical choice. His hard-working attitude should resonate well with fans in Dallas, who have watched their fair share of slackers over the years.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

There are still question marks around DeSean Jackson, making Floyd the sensible pick here.

16. New York Jets (8-8): Quinton Coples, DE/DT, North Carolina

The Jets defense wasn't nearly as dominant this season. Coples would help the unit bounce back.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Cincinnati needs a lineman like DeCastro to blow open more holes in the running game.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw will finally help the Chargers generate a better pass rush.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Few picks in the entire first round make more sense than Konz to the Bears.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict would be selected higher if not for concerns about his temper. (See: Ndamukong Suh)

21. Detroit Lions (10-6): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Detroit's offense can score with any team, so the focus will shift to defenders like Dennnard.

22. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Miller will replace an aging, volume rusher in Cedric Benson.

23. Denver Broncos (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Cox has benefited from Devon Still's rise as that has allowed him to sneak into the first round of many mock drafts. He's coming off the best season of his career with the Bulldogs in which he made major strides toward showing he can handle his own in the NFL.

His best trait is quickness at the snap. That explosiveness is pretty rare among big men and should allow him to catch opposing offensive lines off guard. He's going to need to develop some pass rushing moves if he wants to be a three-down lineman, though.

The Broncos defense was just as important as Tim Tebow in helping the team surge into the playoffs but has faded in recent weeks. Acquiring players who can clog running lanes should help perimeter players like Von Miller have more success getting into the backfield.

24. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery would be the second major addition to Cleveland's offense in the first round.

25. Houston Texans (10-6): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Barron should upgrade an already improved defense in Houston.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The Steelers struggled with poor offense line play, which makes Glenn a smart pick.

27. New York Giants (9-7): Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

After a plethora of injuries on defense this season, the Giants will benefit from some fresh faces on that side of the ball.

28. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Patriots will be addressing defense quite a bit during April's draft, starting with Jenkins.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Hightower can become Ray Lewis' protégé with the Ravens.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Adding playmakers on offense will be San Francisco's top priority in the draft.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Assuming Bill Belichick doesn't trade this pick, the Patriots will add some youth to an aging receiving corps with Sanu.

32. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Chris Polk, RB, Washington

The combination of James Starks and Ryan Grant has been less than impressive, which may cause the Packers to take a chance on Polk.

* Denotes order to be determined by coin flip at NFL Scouting Combine.